Another Monday, another deep dive into what’s been keeping the PRJ editorial desk occupied — and this has been one of those weeks where the sheer quality of the material makes the job genuinely rewarding. From Avant-Prog excavations to monumental new singles, from hidden relics of the British underground to full concert streams that deserve far more attention than they’ve received — it’s all here. Grab your headphones. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss.
— REVIEWS —
Me El-Ma — Forward Owner
Israeli drummer-turned-visionary Me El-Ma returns with “Forward Owner,” his latest journey into the labyrinthine corridors of Avant-Prog and eclectic Rock. Eight tracks, 42 minutes, and a relentless refusal to follow any predictable path — from the dissonant tension of “Creativity War” to the absurdist poetry of “Cheese for Free You Get Only in a Mousetrap,” this is music that demands engagement. A singular voice from the Israeli scene, and proof that true originality still exists at the margins. [Read the full review]
Unite Douleur — Pollen Haze EP
With “Pollen Haze,” Unite Douleur deliver a tightly coiled, atmospheric EP that lingers like its name suggests — something that gets into the air and stays there. A release well worth your time and attention. [Read the full review]
— INTERVIEWS —
Astraya — From Stuttgart’s Underground to the Edge of “Atropine“
Stuttgart doesn’t get nearly enough credit as a hotbed for progressive music, and Astraya are doing their best to change that. In this exclusive conversation, we trace their path from the city’s underground scene to the release of “Atropine” — a record that deserves to be heard far beyond German borders. A candid, revealing interview with a band on the rise. [Read the interview]
Poly-Math — Complexity, Evolution, and Identity in Contemporary Progressive Music
Few bands working today navigate the tension between mathematical precision and raw emotional impact as convincingly as Poly-Math. In this exclusive exchange, we go deep into the processes, philosophies, and identities that shape their music. Essential reading for anyone invested in the current state of instrumental Progressive music. [Read the interview]
— NEWS —
Aziola Cry — Official Video for “Denial Patterns” | Dysphoria Ritual out April 17th on 7D Media
Chicago’s instrumental progressive trio Aziola Cry — Warr guitarist Jason Blake, guitarist Mike Milaniak, and drummer Tommy Murray — have unveiled the official video for “Denial Patterns,” filmed during their commanding performance at ProgStock. The track is the second single from their forthcoming fourth album Dysphoria Ritual, due April 17th on 7D Media, the label founded by former King Crimson member Trey Gunn. Blake describes the song as the thematic anchor of the album — a piece that establishes the presence of something wrong, persistently ignored. Dysphoria Ritual charts one individual’s slow retreat into isolation, blurring the boundary between comfort and confinement. If King Crimson, Tool, or Scale The Summit are in your rotation, this one’s unmissable. [Read the full news]
Elder — Title Track Single & Through Zero Announced | Out May 29th via Blues Funeral / Stickman
Two decades in, Elder remain one of the most compelling forces in heavy psychedelic rock — and Through Zero looks set to be their most ambitious and immediate record yet. The Massachusetts-born, Berlin-based quartet have unveiled the title track: a nine-minute tour through massive riffs, expansive Folk passages, and electronic textures that shifts and breathes in a way only Elder can pull off. Recorded at Big Snuff Studios in Berlin and self-produced alongside longtime collaborator Richard Behrens, the album drops May 29th on Blues Funeral Recordings (North America) and Stickman Records (Europe/UK). The title itself is borrowed from music engineering — the point at which a frequency passes through zero and continues into the negative. Thematically, it’s about impermanence, mortality, and the strange solidarity we find with those who are gone. Pre-Order now. [Read the full news]
— HIDDEN RARITIES —
Hidden Rarities #38: Captain Marryat — The Glasgow Monster and the Sacred Grail of Scottish Heavy Prog
Another chapter in our ongoing archival mission: Captain Marryat, a name that rings no bells in most prog circles, and that’s exactly why it belongs here. Full bio, history, and discography — curated with the care these forgotten records deserve. [Read the full editorial]
Complex — Hidden Rarities #56 | The Holy Grail of Blackpool and the Legend of 99 Copies
Ninety-nine copies. That’s all that reportedly exist of Complex’s self-released record, making it one of the most mythologized artefacts in British prog. We go deep into the story behind the band, the album, and the legend — because some records are too important to remain forgotten. [Read the full editorial]
— COMPILATION —
PRJ Compilation Vol. XIV — Forests of the Ancient Mind [Read the exclusive article]
Stream on YouTube:
Volume XIV of our ongoing compilation series is here — a journey through dense, atmospheric, and ancient-sounding prog that feels like walking through a forest that has never seen sunlight. Curated across genres, connected by mood and texture. Stream it on YouTube and read the full curatorial notes in the exclusive article. Artists featured are also invited to join as YouTube collaborators — reach out if you’d like to be part of the next volume.
— THE PRJ YOUTUBE CHANNEL —
Gothique — Live In London 1983 [Full Concert] |
Watch on YouTube:
A full live document from 1983 that captures Gothique at what sounds like the peak of their powers. Raw, atmospheric, and completely essential for anyone with a taste for the darker corners of early ’80s Progressive Rock.
Secret Wisdom — What Never Was… [1995, Full Demo] |
Stream on YouTube:
A 1995 demo that never made it to a proper release — and that’s precisely what makes it so compelling. “What Never Was…” is exactly that: a record that shouldn’t have stayed unreleased this long. Now it’s here, and you should hear it.
“That’s the week. Keep digging, keep listening — and if you find something the rest of the world hasn’t noticed yet, you know where to send it.” — Jacopo // PRJ